* Drop in on libraries in your travels. Talk with directors and staff. Encourage your staff or trustees to do the same.

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==Find a Sister Library: Using This Wiki==

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*We maintain a directory of libraries seeking a Sister Library partnership. Browse [[The Directory]] and look for an institution that might be a good match for your own. Contact them directly.

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*If you don't see an appropriate match, [[Post Your Information|post your library's information]] in The Directory.

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*Once you have made a partnership, please let us know by emailing sister.libraires@gmail.com. Be sure to include the name of your institution and the name of your partner institution.

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* Contact international library students - they might return to set up a Sister Library relationship.

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==Find a Sister Library: Outside Opportunities==

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There are many other avenues that might lead you to a Sister Library partnership.

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*''Does your city have a sister city?'' Contact your local officials to find out, and try contact the library in your sister city.

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*''Contact U.S. Embassies.'' The State Department sponsors ''American Corner'' cultural centers / libraries that are located around the world and seek to provide up-to-date information about the United States. The Corners are staffed by local information professionals and are partnered with host institutions, often libraries. If you're interested in a particular region, [http://usembassy.state.gov/ contact a U.S. Embassy] to see if there are any American Corners there. For one example, see [http://www.americancorner.org.tw/en/ http://www.americancorner.org.tw/en/].<br>

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*''Try informal routes and relationships.'' Find people or organizations in your community that have relationships with other countries. Consider which immigrant groups are represented in your community. Take a look at [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112100714121781574025.0004504d4bd43eafe2070 this map] identifying some population concentrations in the United States.

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*''Drop in on libraries in your travels.'' Talk with directors and staff. Encourage your staff or trustees to do the same.

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*''Contact international library students'' - they might return to set up a Sister Library relationship.

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*''Look at your community to find natural relationships to build upon'' - a festival or community specialty that might suggest a relationship with a community in another country.

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*''Many religious institutions have sister congregations.'' Find out if your religious institution has a sister congregation and establish a relationship between its community library and yours.

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*''Several organizations have relevant information for establishing a Sister Library relationship.'' Check their websites for more information:<br>

**[http://www.rotary.org Rotary International] - Contacts with organizations around the world.<br>

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**[http://www.sister-cities.org Sister Cities International] - Many communities have relationships at various levels with their Sister Cities except with their libraries. Sister Cities has a tip sheet that could help in finding a Sister Library for your library.

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**[http://www.peacecorps.gov U.S. Peace Corps] - Information on volunteer exchange efforts throughout the world.

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* Look at your community to find natural relationships to build upon - a festival or community specialty that might suggest a relationship with a community in another country.

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* Many religious institutions have sister congregations. Find out if your religious institution has a sister congregation and establish a relationship between its community library and yours.

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{{For More Information}}

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* Several organizations have relevant information for establishing a Sister Library relationship. Check their websites for more information:

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[http://www.ifla.org International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions] (IFLA)<br>

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Contact information for library associations in specific countries.

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[http://www.rotary.org Rotary International] - Contacts with organizations around the world.<br>

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[http://www.sister-cities.org Sister Cities International]<br>

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Many communities have relationships at various levels with their Sister Cities except with their libraries. Sister Cities has a tip sheet that could help in finding a Sister Library for your library.

Once you have made a partnership, please let us know by emailing sister.libraires@gmail.com. Be sure to include the name of your institution and the name of your partner institution.

Find a Sister Library: Outside Opportunities

There are many other avenues that might lead you to a Sister Library partnership.

Does your city have a sister city? Contact your local officials to find out, and try contact the library in your sister city.

Contact U.S. Embassies. The State Department sponsors American Corner cultural centers / libraries that are located around the world and seek to provide up-to-date information about the United States. The Corners are staffed by local information professionals and are partnered with host institutions, often libraries. If you're interested in a particular region, contact a U.S. Embassy to see if there are any American Corners there. For one example, see http://www.americancorner.org.tw/en/.

Try informal routes and relationships. Find people or organizations in your community that have relationships with other countries. Consider which immigrant groups are represented in your community. Take a look at this map identifying some population concentrations in the United States.

Drop in on libraries in your travels. Talk with directors and staff. Encourage your staff or trustees to do the same.

Contact international library students - they might return to set up a Sister Library relationship.

Look at your community to find natural relationships to build upon - a festival or community specialty that might suggest a relationship with a community in another country.

Many religious institutions have sister congregations. Find out if your religious institution has a sister congregation and establish a relationship between its community library and yours.

Several organizations have relevant information for establishing a Sister Library relationship. Check their websites for more information:

Sister Cities International - Many communities have relationships at various levels with their Sister Cities except with their libraries. Sister Cities has a tip sheet that could help in finding a Sister Library for your library.

U.S. Peace Corps - Information on volunteer exchange efforts throughout the world.